[Avodah] Tefillas Mincha Voluntary?

[Liron Kopinsky]

> We are obligated to pray the shacharis prayer because Hashem returns our
> souls to us [in the morning], and in these prayers we say [before the
> Shemoneh Esrei] the prayer of Emes V’Yatziv (Hashem is true and steadfast),
> and we thank Hashem for all His many favors, such as the shining sun.
>
> We are obligated to pray the evening prayer because we are now giving over
> our soul to Hashem for safekeeping as a trust [when we sleep], and we
> believe that the Blessed Creator is faithful and trustworthy to return this
> soul with which He was entrusted, and therefore we say Emes VeEmunah (Hashem
> is true and faithful).
>
> However we are not obligated to pray minchah. It is voluntary, and
> therefore it is called “minchah,” which means “gift” or nedavah."
>

It is quite interesting that he is saying that Shacharit and Maariv are
obligatory because of Birchot Kriat Shema. Why is there any need to connect
the two? Obviously there is an obligation for Shema Beshachbecha u'vkumecha,
and the reasons we say those particular brachot there makes sense (although
the Gemarrah in brachot cites a pasuk for why we choose these).
The Rosh quotes R' Hai Gaon at the very beginning of Brachot who seems to
say that there is no connection at all between the Shema and Shmone Esrei,
and if the only minyan is davening before Tzeit, it may be best to daven
Shmone Esrei with them and then say Shma (presumably with it's brachot)
later.

Maybe he is saying that m'doraisa we have some chiyuv to daven *something*
(not necessarily Shmone Esrei) in the morning and at night, and that the
addition of a mincha prayer, unconnected to any biblical prayer demand is
our "gift" to Hashem.
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